"What did you do to your E39 today V2.0."

[SW530]

I used to use this until I discovered 3m Adhesive remover. That was nearly 30 years ago.

51ghXj2vweL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

[JimLev]

OK, thanks for all the suggestions.
I ran out of the 3M stuff a while ago, time to get more.
I’ll start the cleaning with a tooth brush and soapy water then move on to what you guys have suggested.

The faint horizontal line looks like it’s always been there.
42B0601A-EE49-41A8-B818-6CA9E053416F.jpg

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

I used to use this until I discovered 3m Adhesive remover. That was nearly 30 years ago.

51ghXj2vweL._AC_SL1000_.jpg

It’s still the same stuff.

OK, thanks for all the suggestions.
I ran out of the 3M stuff a while ago, time to get more.
I’ll start the cleaning with a tooth brush and soapy water then move on to what you guys have suggested.

The faint horizontal line looks like it’s always been there.
42B0601A-EE49-41A8-B818-6CA9E053416F.jpg

That mark will come off with the steamer, or you can also use a heat gun and flash it with heat, don’t sit there and concentrate the heat at it, you can, to a point, but if you do a few passes with the heat cranked up, it will little, by little, blend back into it’s old self. You can also do that to the red buttons of your seatbelt release buttons if yours are faded to pink, you flash it with high heat, it will shine back up, just don’t over heat it to the point it melts!

[JimLev]

I’ve got a few different size heat guns, I’ll start off with the smaller one.
I think I can get my hands on a steamer too.
My seat belt buttons are still nice and red. That was good info bringing them from pint back to red, someone should be able to use that info.

[computiNATEor]

I’ve got a few different size heat guns, I’ll start off with the smaller one.
I think I can get my hands on a steamer too.
My seat belt buttons are still nice and red. That was good info bringing them from pint back to red, someone should be able to use that info.

G Techniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer works wonders on the red seatbelt buckles, too, without the risk of burning/melting plastic.
https://gtechniq.com/shop/auto/wheel...trim-restorer/

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

G Techniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer works wonders on the red seatbelt buckles, too, without the risk of burning/melting plastic.
https://gtechniq.com/shop/auto/wheel...trim-restorer/

Wow! I’m gonna order some of that stuff! The black fender flares and rocker trim as well as the bottoms of the front and rear bumpers on both my Mini Coopers are a faded black, I have hit one of them with the heat gun already about two years ago, and it’s already back to it’s old ragged out look. Hopefully that stuff makes them look new again. POR15 also came out with their own formula, I was gonna try that too, but have not ordered it yet.

I’ve got a few different size heat guns, I’ll start off with the smaller one.
I think I can get my hands on a steamer too.
My seat belt buttons are still nice and red. That was good info bringing them from pint back to red, someone should be able to use that info.

Man, your buttons are still nice and shiny red? Garaged life. The heat guns can do some damage, so be careful, especially on your door panels that vinyl is real thin.
I’d use steam just to be safe. With the heat gun, basically, you are flashing the surface with high heat, and it literally melts the top layer, and shines it up. If you get carried away, it could melt a hole. So if you do use a het gun on the panel, do it real fast, with the heat turned down.

[JimLev]

Yup, nice and shiny red, it’s garaged 99% of the time.
OK, I’ll use the steam first.

[SW530]

It’s still the same stuff.

It probably would have made more sense if I'd reply to quotes.. I was replying to his post about Goo Gone.

[SW530]

I’ve got a few different size heat guns, I’ll start off with the smaller one.
I think I can get my hands on a steamer too.
My seat belt buttons are still nice and red. That was good info bringing them from pint back to red, someone should be able to use that info.

Caution: I have I think four different size heat guns. They all throw the same level of heat more or less. But the smaller ones concentrate that heat and can do some real damage. On the New Edge Mustangs the bottom of the door card has this fake carpet that looks more like colored steel wool than carpet. I got this wild hair to pull that stuff off and replace it with a nice color matched suede. Great in theory. I can still picture that clean modern look. But bad bad bad in practice because somehow the fused it to the plastic frame of the door card and the only way to get it off was with a heat gun.. the small one.. man it made a mess. I'm still looking for a cherry set of 1999-2004 charcoal door cards with the Mach 600 speakers.

[SW530]

What are the best VCG's to buy? Is there anything else to add to the shopping list when changing VCG's?

I'm going to bead blast and re-coat my VC's with an appropriate color paint.. anyone know what that is? I'm going to use Cerakooe that's good to 4000f, or until they melt whichever comes first. Anything should look better than the vibrant blue the previous owner used..

[computiNATEor]

What are the best VCG's to buy? Is there anything else to add to the shopping list when changing VCG's?

I'm going to bead blast and re-coat my VC's with an appropriate color paint.. anyone know what that is? I'm going to use Cerakooe that's good to 4000f, or until they melt whichever comes first. Anything should look better than the vibrant blue the previous owner used..

I've had good results with Elring. I believe they're the OE manufacturer for many gaskets. I've only done it once, though.

From the factory the valve covers were an odd gold. JimLev's own blue powdercoated valve covers look quite nice. I'd go for a gunmetal/silver on a 540i, personally.

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Yep, Elring is who makes them for BMW.

[Nfs021]

Recently replaced the fog lights. Left side one was original with original bulb and pitted badly. Right side was replaced at some point having a 2015 date stamp. But yeah, took a nasty hit from something earlier in the year. Most likely a rock.
20220915_135026.jpg

Got annoyed by looking at them and finally bought new ones. I know HID's are popular, but I think they are overkill. So stuck with Genuine BMW. Put some Lamin-X on them for better protection.
20220908_161433.jpg

As for bulbs. I still wanted some extra brightness, but not blinding like those little d**k a-holes in their lifted trucks that blind everyone with. So I went with Sylvania Silverstar Ultra 9012 bulbs. 9012 bulbs are brighter than 9006 bulbs. Had to carefully trim one of the tabs to fit. But plug-n-play after that.
20220915_121352.jpg

As for comparison. Here's the old, not quite as bright as it is in the pics, but not horribly bad.
20220917-093917_Gallery.jpg

And here's the new. Yes I did aim them low, but will lower them some more. Again, not quite as bright as the pics show. But still bright enough to use as headlights lol.
20220917-093928_Gallery.jpg

Overall quite happy with the results. Next up, headlight rebuild.

[Nfs021]

Another pic with the car facing other direction on same road.20220917-093938_Gallery.jpg

[SW530]

I've had good results with Elring. I believe they're the OE manufacturer for many gaskets. I've only done it once, though.

From the factory the valve covers were an odd gold. JimLev's own blue powdercoated valve covers look quite nice. I'd go for a gunmetal/silver on a 540i, personally.

Thank you.

Is this the color gold?

og.jpg


I thought this was the OG color since it's what comes on the new ones.

og1.jpg


This are mine. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't flaking but as it is, it's a horror show.

E39smalllhood-1.jpg


Anyone have the official color names or codes?

I'm also looking for the frame/bracket that the beauty cover widgets attach to under the beauty cover if anyone has any they'd like to sell. Currently the cover just sits up there and it doesn't look bad or have any functional issues but it's not right.

[computiNATEor]

Thank you.

Is this the color gold?

Anyone have the official color names or codes?

Yup, that's it. They peel and crack badly from the factory. I believe they're made from magnesium; should be a little ">Mg<" stamp on the underside.
IMO, a powdercoat is the only way to go. Or anodizing, if you can find a place to do it.

No idea on the official names/colors, sorry.

I believe the frame brackets you're looking for are listed in this parts diagram
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_1592

[kallekula]

Prepared for the new pressure regulator but forgot to put the new valve in the freezer so work is paused till tomorrow, at least. Took some pictures while I was working. Repair is easy and I hope shifting will be significantly improved.
954240C2-ABFE-44AA-A7A4-EF8B6B8982FD.jpg932962D5-01AB-4CFA-B7EE-F76395DC33ED.jpg23687AC0-DA56-4C52-B8EA-ADF80F5ADA20.jpgE79A5663-58C7-4BBC-9EBC-523BFB8EE3EF.jpgC6AAD8B9-437D-4ECA-8880-D84217FFFA8D.jpg

[wagons ho]

The valve covers are supposed to be plain old silver.
The color and flaking is how you tell how hot the engine has been.

And sw530;
I'm also looking for the frame/bracket that the beauty cover widgets attach to under the beauty cover if anyone has any they'd like to sell. Currently the cover just sits up there and it doesn't look bad or have any functional issues but it's not right.
PM me, I throw these out by the handful, although shipping stuff to everyone starts to add up.

[computiNATEor]

The valve covers are supposed to be plain old silver.
The color and flaking is how you tell how hot the engine has been.

Oh, really? Good to know. Makes sense, that thermostat is so warm.

[ross1]

The trend in brake service is to toss not turn due to all the issues that could happen. In a DIY world you can do anything from just hanging pads to turning the rotors if needed and or toss them. The rule at most bmw Indy shops seem to be two sets of pads to one rotor life.
your car, your wallet and your life.

after seeing people at the wrecking yards buying used rotors and used pads made me realize that some people just don’t have brains or are so hit by crazy Uncle Joes economic impacts that they buy what they can afford to keep rolling for work.

News flash, your brakes are used as well.

[StephenVA]

Powder coating is the way to go. Here is a set of X5 4.6 covers (same material) crinkle finish. These where done by the wheel shop in North Carolina a few years ago. Still look great.
http://www.princewheelservices.com/

[kallekula]

If you can find someone that is willing to coat Magnesium. I didn’t so I bought VHT wrinkle spray. Came out looking pretty frikkin good at the cost of a can of spray. 4 years later it still looks good and seems to hold up.

[Nfs021]

If you can find someone that is willing to coat Magnesium. I didn’t so I bought VHT wrinkle spray. Came out looking pretty frikkin good at the cost of a can of spray. 4 years later it still looks good and seems to hold up.

Agreed, used VHT engine paint on my valve covers last year and it came out great. And still look great a year later.

20210707_193902.jpg

[kallekula]

Looks nice!
I even put quarters in the indentations before I painted them. Probably doesn’t matter but I didn’t want to introduce any new oil leaks.

[Nfs021]

Yeah I did a ton of masking making sure no paint gets into areas it doesn't belong. Probably took two hours per cover masking off lol.